The brothers have not finalized Nino’s AQ’s menu yet, but plan to incorporate elements of their existing restaurant, Nino’s 46, which is located on 46th Street in Manhattan. At the restaurant, Franco, the executive chef, takes elements of classic Italian dishes— such as charred octopus— and revitalizes them with ingredients such as a zucchini filling and mango tossed with chili paste.

At Nino’s AQ, Franco said he wants to experiment with light, shareable dishes and crudo— an Italian raw fish specialty. The restaurant will also offer a wine menu featuring local and organic wines.

Although the brothers have a contemporary, sophisticated vision for Nino’s AQ, said Franco, the food and the atmosphere will be low-key.

“We want people to have a city experience but without any pretension,” said Franco. “It’s a family restaurant.”

35th and Ditmars Blvd

For the Vendomes, food was an essential part of their childhood. Their parents, a pair of Italian immigrants opened Nino’s 46 in 1982. The Vendome brothers spent their summer breaks working in the restaurant and learning the trade.

As members of a “big Italian family,” the brothers were also exposed to traditional Italian food at every get together with their extended family, said Michael.

“I grew up in it,” he said. “It’s in my blood.”

Franco, the restaurant’s executive chef, took over Nino’s 46 upon his parents’ retirement in 2008, but it was not until a fire damaged the location in 2011 that the brothers’ vision of a sophisticated Italian restaurant began to take shape.

Franco and Michael worked together over the next few years to transform the restaurant— which had been a traditional New York Italian diner— into the modern space it is today.

Now, the brothers intend to expand their vision to Astoria, where Franco says he hopes to try out more innovative options that might not appeal to midtown and business-lunch type crowd.

“I want to go off the beaten path,” said Franco. “I’ve got nothing against the old school stuff, but we like to keep it fresh.”

The restaurant will also incorporate a wide variety of gluten-free pastas and pizzas. For Franco, being gluten-free isn’t just a trend— he’s a sufferer of celiac disease.

“It’s tough as an Italian, but you learn to adapt,” said Franco.

Upon opening, Nino’s AQ will contain about 50 seats inside as well as space for outdoor dining.

It’s not just pizza people it’s Italian cuisine u read the first sentence an compare to pizzeria s no where near to eating as if it’s a pizzeria you should all take a trip to ninos 46 to get an idea of how good there food is

It’s not just pizza people it’s Italian cuisine u read the first sentence an compare to pizzeria s no where near to eating as if it’s a pizzeria you should all take a trip to ninos 46 to get an idea of how good there food is

I wish them luck and hope that there’s room for them. With Portobello, Alba’s and Tufino I think we have the pizza covered here. With Portobello and Trattoria L’inconttro we’ve got the Italian covered. I’d like to see anything take over that corner and succeed and stay a long time. Good luck!

The NYC Ferry system is set to undergo a significant expansion in coming months, with the Astoria route, connecting the western Queens neighborhood to Wall Street, getting a new stop at the Brooklyn Navy Yard this spring.

A 24-year-old Brooklyn man who crashed his car on the BQE in 2017 and left a 25-year-old Astoria woman inside his burning vehicle to die was sentenced yesterday to four to 12 years in prison, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.